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Group sets health care discussions

Local conservatives have organized what they’re calling a seminar discussion on the impending Affordable Care Act, set for Monday evening at 6:30 in the chambers of the Grand Junction City Council.

The Freedom! Colorado group calls the forum “Just the Facts: The Affordable Care Act and You,” and it will feature at least one physician, Dr. Larry Tice, a representative from the world of insurance and finance, and local business owners. Admission is free.

“The Affordable Care Act is the law of the land, and most people don’t know what’s in it still,” said Kevin McCarney, chairman of the group.

McCarney said that despite the recent news that the employer mandate in “Obamacare” would be pushed back a full year, “the individual mandate is still there.”

Also, for businesses that are planning for the future, McCarney said they’ll be discussing what they need to do to avoid being forced into the state exchanges. The state exchange, which carries the moniker Connect For Health Colorado, remains on pace to be open for business Oct. 1, according to a spokesperson.

Dr. Tice will be providing a physician’s perspective, which is not always included in the hot-button debates that usually surround the political issue that heath reform has become.

“Folks probably don’t realize that there are a number of doctors in this area that are actually thinking of closing their practices because of this,” McCarney said.

He said others are considering becoming cash-only practices, or selling memberships. McCarney is himself a licensed health insurance agent.

He called the insurance expert invited to participate, Cindy Peterson, the forum’s “home-run hitter.” Peterson is expected to explain the four different levels of care associated with reform, detail the program’s fines, and further explain the new “navigating” system that goes along with the law.

“The politics of this really are done. Until it’s repealed or they refight the battle, this is the law of the land,” McCarney said. “And the simple fact is, when individuals do their taxes next year, if they don’t have health insurance they are going to be fined … (and) if they do have health insurance and it happens to be a ‘Cadillac’ or ‘Hollywood’ plan, they’re facing extra taxes on that.”